Why Go to the Moon?

As NASA prepares for Artemis II—the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon in more than 50 years—the United States is entering a new phase of human space exploration.

As NASA prepares for Artemis II—the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon in more than 50 years—the United States is entering a new phase of human space exploration. The return to the Moon is not simply a reprise of Apollo, but part of a broader effort to advance scientific discovery, strengthen international partnerships, and compete in an increasingly contested space domain.

This CSIS Aerospace Security Project commentary series brings together experts from government, industry, and the policy community to answer a fundamental question: Why is the United States going to the Moon? Contributors examine the strategic, economic, scientific, and geopolitical drivers behind renewed lunar exploration, as well as what success will require in the years ahead.

Together, these perspectives highlight how the Moon is once again becoming central to questions of national power, technological leadership, and the future of human activity in space.

The commentaries in this project are made possible through general support to CSIS.

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Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

What Comes Next for Artemis?

With the completion of Artemis II, NASA sets its sights on its next Moon mission. To get there, NASA has rolled out a new plan for Artemis. This new plan addresses risks for the old plan, leaves some risks unchanged, and introduces new risks.

Commentary by Clayton Swope — April 17, 2026

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A New Generation Looks to the Moon: Perspectives on Artemis

For a generation born after the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, it represents not just a technical milestone, but a defining moment—a generation's first lived experience of the United States' renewed push into deep space.

Commentary by Clayton Swope, Chantal Li, and Jack Seay — April 17, 2026

What Comes Next for Artemis?

With the completion of Artemis II, NASA sets its sights on its next Moon mission. To get there, NASA has rolled out a new plan for Artemis. This new plan addresses risks for the old plan, leaves some risks unchanged, and introduces new risks.

Commentary by Clayton Swope — April 17, 2026

International Collaboration Took the United States Back to the Moon

Artemis II was more than a U.S. mission—it was a global effort. The success of U.S. lunar exploration depends on sustaining international partnerships that provide essential capabilities, legitimacy, and long-term leadership in space.

Commentary by Lauryn Williams — April 17, 2026

Why Go Back to the Moon?

As the United States prepares to return humans to the Moon, the case rests on three strategic drivers: its role as a gateway to deep space, its valuable natural resources, and the growing risk of ceding leadership in space to China.

Commentary by Clayton Swope — March 31, 2026

Beyond Artemis: Why the Moon Matters for the Future of Space Operations

Returning to the Moon is not just about exploration. It is about extending space operations beyond Earth orbit, developing the capabilities, norms, and infrastructure needed to sustain activity in cislunar space, and shaping the future of how we operate in space.

Commentary by Tahara Dawkins — March 31, 2026

Cracking the Code on the Lunar Economy

To build a sustainable lunar economy, the United States must move beyond government-led models and adopt a commercially driven approach, treating the Moon as a real estate project anchored by public-private partnerships and an international Lunar Development Authority.

Commentary by Charles Miller — March 31, 2026

We Are Going Back to the Moon to Stay

NASA's plan to establish a base on the Moon is part of a strategic competition with China. The United States needs to be in it for the long game.

Commentary by Audrey Schaffer — March 31, 2026

Artemis and the Economics of a Permanent Moonbase

Apollo proved we could go. Artemis must prove we can stay. That will require not just new technology, but a new approach to cost, partnerships, and political durability.

Commentary by Alexander MacDonald — March 31, 2026